Destin Car Accident Statistics

According to recent Destin car accident statistics, nearly 14 crashes occur around Destin and the surrounding counties every day. If you were recently injured in a car accident in Destin, Florida, you could be entitled to compensation.

Let the Destin car accident lawyers at Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers help you fight for the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

We’ve been standing up for injured victims in Northwest Florida since 1990. We’ve won millions of dollars in life-changing financial awards for clients after car crashes of all types, including rollover accidents, head-on collisions, multi-car crashes, rear-end collisions, highway accidents, and more.

Destin car accident statistics are sobering. If you or a family member have been involved in a crash, contact our Destin, FL law office or give us a call at (850) 842-2573 today for your free consultation. We’re always here to take your call.

How Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Destin

How Brannon & Brannon Can Help After a Car Accident in Destin

After a crash, you need time to recover. You don’t need to deal with the hassle of fighting insurance companies that are trying to take advantage of you in your time of need. You need an advocate to look out for your best interests and protect you from greedy companies that want to pay less than you deserve.

With more than 60 years of collective legal experience, we’ve gained a reputation as a trusted personal injury law firm in the Florida Panhandle. We want to help you recover the money you need to move forward after your car accident.

When our Destin car accident lawyers handle your case, we’ll:

  • Conduct a full independent investigation of your accident
  • Collect evidence to support your case
  • File insurance claims
  • Handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies
  • Send a top-rated litigator to fight for you in court, if necessary

We are committed to giving every case the immediate attention it deserves. Call now to find out how we can help. Your case evaluation is free of charge.

How Common Are Car Accidents in Destin, Florida?

Highway safety has become a bigger priority for places like Destin and Santa Rosa. Unfortunately, traffic accidents in Destin seem to be following the national trend—that is, more fatalities have occurred despite fewer crashes. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,  many tragic accidents occur along Highway 98.

In 2021, in the Destin and Fort Walton Beach area (Okaloosa County and Walton County), there were about 14 car accidents a day. Roughly one in every five crashes was a hit and run.

In 2021, Okaloosa County had:

  • 3,415 auto accidents
  • 41 fatalities
  • 2,012 injuries from crashes

Likewise, Walton County has:

  • 1,687 vehicle accidents
  • 969 injuries
  • 40 fatalities

As of late January 2022, there have been 134 crashes in Okaloosa and Walton counties, causing 73 injuries. 

Five-Year Trend for Vehicle Crashes in Destin

It’s an unusual time to try to look at trends. We know that the number of people on the roads decreased dramatically during 2020. Many people were still working from home in 2021, and the entire structure of the workplace changed significantly in just two years.

Those changes seem to be reflected in the total number of accidents in Okaloosa County over the past five years.

The total number of motor vehicle accidents decreased during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic:

2017: 3,527

2018: 3,532

2019: 3,576

2020: 3,075

2021: 3,415

The total number of injuries from crashes follows a similar pattern, with a dip in 2020, but on the rise again in 2021:

2017: 2,173

2018: 2,108

2019: 2,248

2020: 1,828

2021: 1,841

Until 2020, vehicle crashes were on the upswing. In 2019, there was a 6.6% increase in the number of accidents compared to the prior year.

Fatal Car Accidents in Destin

More people are dying in Okaloosa County crashes, even though there are fewer accidents. In the two years with the fewest collisions (2020 and 2021), a total of 86 people died. In the two years with the most collisions (2018 and 2019), 66 people were killed.

While there was a slight dip in 2018 and again in 2021, fatalities overall have increased during the past several years:

2017: 32

2018: 27

2019: 39

2020: 45

2021: 41

Despite the reduced traffic and lower number of crashes, traffic fatalities in 2020 were up 15% from the prior year. There was a welcome reduction in total deaths in 2021, but that number is high relative to the number of crashes.

Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving is reckless driving. In Okaloosa County, there were 864 crashes due to distracted driving in 2020.

Throughout the state, 48,537 accidents were caused by distracted driving in 2020. From those, 2,756 people were injured, and 308 people died.

The number of fatalities across the state due to distracted driving increased by a staggering 41% from 2015 to 2020.

And 2020 had the highest number of fatal accidents from distracted driving in that time period despite fewer cars on the road:

2015: 219

2016: 245

2017: 237

2018: 235

2019: 267

2020: 308

2021: 121 (as of June 3, 2021)

Some distractions are unavoidable. But many things are under your control—like using your cell phone or reaching for things in the back seat. Be careful not to allow distractions to take your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel.

How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?

No two cases are alike. Your case will depend on the facts unique to your accident. Factors that can affect the value of your claim include:

  • The nature and severity of your injuries
  • Whether you were partially at fault for the crash
  • Whether you’re expected to make a full recovery
  • The value of your lost wages (past and future)

Accidents resulting in serious injuries, long-term impairments, or death tend to result in higher awards. We work hard to maximize the compensation available to you.

What Damages Are Available to Car Accident Victims? 

If someone else caused your accident, they should be held accountable and made to pay all of your compensatory damages – economic and non-economic. 

Economic damages cover financial losses for expenses like:

  • Medical bills
  • Loss of income
  • Physical therapy
  • Nursing care
  • Property damage
  • Prescriptions

Non-economic damages can include compensation for:

  • Physical pain
  • Emotional trauma
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Disability
  • PTSD

In rare cases, punitive damages may be available. The purpose of punitive damages isn’t to compensate you for your losses. Instead, punitive damages “punish” the defendant for severely reckless or intentional behavior.

Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed For a Car Crash in Florida?

Yes. Florida is a “no-fault” state when it comes to car accidents. Florida drivers are required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. PIP covers a portion of your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who was at fault.

PIP coverage is helpful, but if your expenses exceed the policy limit, you’ll still be left with bills to pay. And, PIP only covers a portion of your lost wages.

If you’re seriously injured, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. In that case, as long as you weren’t 100% responsible for the accident, you can still recover compensation.

Comparative Fault

Florida follows a modified comparative fault rule when it comes to sharing the blame for an accident. If you’re partially to blame, your compensation will be reduced by the portion of fault attributed to you. If you are mostly responsible, you will be barred from recovering damages.

Our Destin personal injury attorneys have years of experience standing up to insurance companies who try to place unfair blame on the victim. Our founding partner began his career as an insurance defense lawyer. He uses the insight, training, and experience gained during that time to put you on a level playing field with big insurance companies trying to get out of paying you what you deserve.

We’ll Fight for Compensation For All of Your Car Accident Injuries

We routinely help injured victims recover compensation for injuries like:

We frequently work with experts to help us understand and document the extent of your injuries. We seek compensation for all ongoing medical treatment needed. 

What Causes Most Car Accidents in Destin?

Most car accidents are preventable. If all drivers were more careful on the roads, we’d have fewer accidents.

Some common causes of accidents include:

  • Distracted driving
  • Aggressive driving
  • Driver inexperience
  • Drunk driving
  • Tailgating
  • Improper lane changes
  • Driving too fast for conditions
  • Potholes or other poorly maintained road conditions
  • Confusing or missing signage
  • Poorly designed intersections
  • Mechanical failure
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way
  • Malfunctioning traffic or pedestrian signals

We leave no stone unturned when investigating your car wreck. We want to identify every possible cause so that we can hold each responsible party financially accountable.

We Handle All Types of Car Accident Cases

Whether you were in a single-car crash or a multi-vehicle pileup, we can help you with your car accident case.

We regularly represent victims of:

Most accidents are more complex than you think. Whether it’s dealing with multiple liable parties, a contested causation issue, or disputed medical claims, we have the experience, knowledge, and training to help put you in the best position to achieve a favorable outcome in your case.

Get Help After a Car Accident in Destin

Destin car accident statistics are sobering. If you were injured in a car crash in the Florida Panhandle, you don’t have to face the next steps alone. Call the Destin car accident lawyers at Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers for help.

We’ve been helping injured victims get the financial compensation they need after traumatic accidents for more than three decades. Let us help you, too.

Your initial consultation is completely free, so call or contact us online today.